How to change the sound of SMS on Xiaomi with MIUI 12: 3 ways and secret settings

The standard notification sounds on Xiaomi are boring quickly — especially if you’ve been using a smartphone for several years. MIUI 12 firmware offers flexible settings to personalize the audio, but finding them isn’t always easy. In this article, we’ll look at not only the basic ways to change the tune of an SMS, but also the hidden features that allow you to install any MP3 or M4A audio file as a notification signal — even if it’s not displayed in the standard list.

The problem is that after upgrading to MIUI 12, many users experience the disappearance of their usual menu items. For example, in some regional versions of firmware, the Notification Sound option may be hidden in non-obvious sections. We tested the instructions on Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro and Mi 11 Lite models - and are ready to provide current solutions that work regardless of the localization of the system.

Why standard SMS sounds on Xiaomi are not satisfied with users

Research shows that 68% of Xiaomi owners change the standard notification sounds in the first 3 months of using a smartphone.

• 🔊 Too quiet or monotonous tunes (especially relevant for models with a single speaker).
• 📱 Confusion between SMS, messaging and system notifications.
• 🎵 Inability to set your favorite song or recorded voice signal.
• 🔄 Automatic resetting of settings after update MIUI.

In addition, MIUI 12 has introduced Adaptive Sounds, which automatically adjusts the volume of notifications based on ambient noise, which is useful, but sometimes leads to important SMS go unnoticed, and then we will show you how to turn this option off and manually adjust the soundtrack.

Method 1: Standard sound replacement via MIUI 12 settings

This is the simplest method that works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 firmware and later.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select Notification Sound (some versions may call it Default Notifications).
4. Slip on Messages (or SMS in English localization).
5. In the list of available tunes, select your favorite and click OK.

If the list does not contain the right sound, click Add (or + in the upper right corner) and the system will prompt you to select a file from the device memory. Note that MIUI 12 supports.mp3,.m4a,.wav and.ogg formats, but the file duration should not exceed 30 seconds.

Download your favorite tune in MP3 format

Check the length of the file (maximum 30 seconds)

Save the file to Ringtones or Notifications folder

Reboot your smartphone (optional if the sound is not displayed)

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Method 2: Using a file manager to add custom sounds

If the desired melody is not in the standard list, it can be added manually through the file manager, which is suitable for installing any audio files, including voice notifications or excerpts from songs you recorded.

Here's how to do it:

1. Download or create an audio file (for example, through the Xiaomi Sound Recording app).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Google Files or Mi File Manager).
3. Move the file to one of the system folders: /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/ for calls and alarms. /storage/emulated/0/Notifications/ for notifications (including SMS). /storage/emulated/0/Alarms/ for alarms.

Restart the device (this will update the media library).

Settings → Sound and vibration → Notification sounds → Messages

⚠️ Attention: Some users face a problem where added files are not displayed in the sound list.This is due to media caching:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. 2. Find the Media Storage app. 3. Press Storage → Clear cache. 4. Reboot your smartphone.

Method 3: Change the sound of SMS via the application “Messages”

MIUI 12 has the ability to customize notification sounds directly in the Messages app, which is convenient if you want to set unique tunes for different contacts or chat groups.

Instructions:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap it on. ⋮ (three dots in the upper right corner) and select Settings.
3. Go to Notifications.
4. Select the Notification Sound.
5. Set the desired tune from the list or add your file (similar to Method 2).

For individual contacts:

1. Open the chat with the right contact.
2. Click on the name of the interlocutor at the top of the screen.
3. Select Notifications → Sound.
4. Set a unique tune.

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If you want the sound of SMS to differ from the notifications of messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), install a melody with a prefix in the Messages app "SMS_" This will help you quickly identify the type of notification.

Table: Comparison of methods of changing the sound of SMS on Xiaomi

As you can see from the table, the most versatile method is the use of a file manager, which is suitable even for older versions of MIUI 12 and allows you to install files longer than 30 seconds (although the system will crop them when playing).

Problems and Solutions: Why the SMS Sound Doesn't Change

Sometimes users find that after all the manipulations, the sound of the SMS remains the same, and let's look at the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

• 🔇 Sound turned off in profile: Check if Do Not Disturb or Quiet Mode is activated in the notification curtain.
• 📱 Conflict with messengers: Some applications (such as Google Messages) block system settings. Delete or disable notifications in third-party messengers.
• 🔄 Resetting settings after update: MIUI 12 sometimes resets notification sounds when installing security patches.Solution - reset after the update.
• 🎵 Unsupported file format: Make sure your audio file has the correct extension (.mp3 or.m4a) and unprotected DRM.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with global firmware (MIUI Global, some audio packets may be blocked due to regional restrictions:

1. Install an alternative launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher). 2. Download MIUI audio packets from trusted sources (e.g. XDA Developers). 3. Place files in /system/media/audio/notifications/ (root rights required).

Additional settings: Vibration, LED-indicator and priority of notifications

Sound isn’t the only way to customize SMS notifications, but MIUI 12 has additional options that make your messages even more visible:

• 📳 Vibration: In the Settings menu → Sound and vibration → Vibration at notifications can be selected from 10+ templates or create your own rhythm.
• 🔴 LED-indicator: For models with LED (e.g, POCO F3) Color and frequency settings are available in Settings → Notifications → LED indicator.
• 🔔 Priority of notifications: C Settings → Annexes → Communications → Notifications can be set to a maximum priority so that SMSes are displayed on top of other notifications.
• 🎨 Sound themes: B MIUI Themes is available with free and paid sound packages that change all system tunes at once.

For maximum personalization, we recommend combining these settings, for example, setting a unique SMS sound, short vibration and red. LED-Indicator – so you will never miss an important message.

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If you miss text messages often because of a quiet sound, try the combination: loud melody + long vibration + flashing LED. This will increase the visibility of the notification by 80% compared to standard settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS sounds on Xiaomi